There’s no denying that we live in a very hands-on world. We are constantly scrolling, tapping, and swiping our cellphones, computers and tablets on a daily basis. Since some of our most-used gadgets are handheld, we realized that we don’t clean them as frequently as we should. This goes beyond the occasional screen wipe down and keyboard dusting. The number of fingerprints and smudges on our gadgets alone inspired us to share with our readers the importance of cleaning them and keeping them germ-free. We won’t get into the gruesome details, but after reading some interesting statistics, we did some research on the best way to deep clean all of our devices. If your favorite tech is due for a good scrub down, keep scrolling to see how you can gently restore your gadgets back to mint condition…

Screen

When it comes to cleaning your screens (and any of your gadgets for that matter) be gentle! Only use a microfiber cloth or an old t-shirt to wipe down your screen. Paper towels or washcloths can potentially scratch the display, which is a big no-no. Wipe your screen down in a circular motion, but never scrub it, or you could end up with a black spot. If your screen needs cleaning beyond this, mix a solution of 50% water and 50% white vinegar and dab a small amount onto a microfiber cloth and wipe it down. We found this cleaning kit on Amazon that makes the job super simple. Tip: Remember to put the solution onto a cloth rather than directly onto the screen to avoid water damage.

Keyboard

Before you clean your keyboard, be sure to turn your computer off (this way you won’t accidentally press any keys). Tilt your keyboard up and gently hit the back to dislodge any dirt trapped on the surface. Next, a Q-tip to remove dirt trapped between the keys. You can also use compressed gas like this to remove particles from the keyboard. To keep your newly clean keyboard in tip top shape, protect it with one of these covers (plus they come in so many cute colors!).

Mouse

Using a Q-tip, carefully wipe the screen on the bottom of the mouse until it’s streak-free. Using a disinfectant wipe, gently clean the top side of the mouse. If your mouse has small “feet” on the bottom, you can use a toothpick to trace around each one and remove dirt.

Cellphone

After turning off your phone, use a soft microfiber cleaning cloth to remove fingerprints (while most phones have a protective coating to repel them, this can sometimes break down over time, leaving the screen looking a little smudged). Make sure you don’t use any harsh cleaning products such as window cleaner on the screen as this can damage the phone. If you feel confident in your phone-cleaning abilities, dab a small amount of a 40% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and 60% water mixture onto a lens cloth and gently wipe it over the phone. Just be sure to avoid getting water in any of the phone ports or under the screen as this could lead to a hardware malfunction. After you’ve cleaned your phone, we suggest using a glass screen protector and investing in a cute case!

Earbuds

Finally, let’s clean those earbuds! Our headphones sure get a lot of wear and since they sit in a pretty delicate place, it’s best to clean them pretty often. If you have headphones that don’t have removable silicon covers, gently wipe them down soap and warm water on a damp cloth. Don’t go too heavy on the liquid since you don’t want any to soak into your headphones. If your earbuds have removable silicon covers, we suggest taking them off and cleaning them or replacing them with brand new covers.